Togo was granted internal autonomy by the French authorities on October, 1956. In the elections of 1958 that were supervised by the United Nations, the CUT party of the late President Sylvanus Olympio won 32 of the 36 seats in the Togolese National Assembly. Mr Grunizky then became leader of the opposition.

President Sylvanus Olympio

The late Sylvanus Olympio was leading his country until he was assassinated on January 1963. Mr. Nicolas Grunitzky, who was living in Dahomey aloof from Togolese politics, returned to Togo upon the death of the late President and became provisional President, promising the people that he would only assume control of the government until a general election takes place.